Roots & Ridge Report

In case we haven’t had the chance to meet yet, my name is Matti Boomgaarden, and I’m your new Agriculture Production Systems Extension Educator serving Pipestone and Murray Counties.

It’s been two months since I stepped into this role, and now that I’ve had some time to settle in, I’m excited to start connecting more with the communities I serve. One way I plan to do that is by launching a monthly newsletter!

My goal with this newsletter is to share information and insights from local experts on topics like crops, livestock, gardening, and everything in between. You’ll find details about upcoming local and statewide events, along with a few articles from some of my favorite agriculture news sources that might come in handy. In the "Resource Report" viewers will find links to resources I've found that some of you may want to look into utilizing.

Each issue will highlight different experts and topics relevant to the season and community needs.

If you’d like to receive this newsletter in your inbox each month, just click the link below to fill out the subscription forum.

In this newsletter, we highlight the expertise of local leaders in crop and veterinary sciences. Special thanks to Aaron Prunty of Chandler Co-op in Edgerton and Dr. George Lemke from Windy Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Pipestone for generously sharing their insights and recommendations.

Matti Boomgaarden- Extension Educator

boomg022@umn.edu

MC:507-836-1143

PC::507-825-1193

2025 Corn Disease Recap

In the Murray-Nobles-Rock-Pipestone area, we saw many localized disease issues, but

nothing that was of major widespread concern. Early in the season most fields had low-

impact Physoderma Brown Spot. Mid season saw varying amounts Grey Leaf Spot,

Common Rust, and Eye Spot in most fields. Northern Corn Leaf Blight showed up in

pockets on hybrids with lower tolerance, and there was a small amount of Southern

Rust. Later in the summer Tar Spot, Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus, and Goss’s Wilt started

to appear. Of those three, Goss’s Wilt is the most common to see right now.

If scouting your own fields for Goss’s Wilt, you’ll notice leaves getting lesions towards

the top of the plant and it’s often worst around the field boundaries. A closer look will

show black freckles on the lesions. If unsure, call your agronomist to take a look with

you to confirm. Since it’s bacterial, there aren’t any foliar treatments. If it’s causing

significant yield loss, the best option is to bury the residue this fall, rotate to soybeans

next year, and plant a hybrid that has a high tolerance score in crop year 2027. It can

cause significant yield loss, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Besides the high yield potential, the best news of this year was the lack of Tar Spot.

We’ve learned from our neighbors in Iowa that there’s a general progression for Tar

Spot when it comes into an area. That progression is: year one you see it, year two it

builds and requires fungicide in most areas, and year three you’re looking at one to two

fungicide applications just to preserve yield. After seeing it introduced to nearly every

field in 2024, we bucked that trend and saw the number of infections retract despite

nearly perfect Tar Spot conditions all spring. It’s obviously still a concern and will need

to be scouted for in future years, but it was a definite win to for the disease to respond in

that way.

With lower commodity prices this year, I took a high-impact approach to fungicide

application. I recommended an application if: high disease pressure obviously

warranted an application, the corn was being used for silage, there was Tar Spot early,

or a specific hybrid needed it. Not all hybrids are created equal when it comes to

disease tolerance, and some can naturally withstand different corn diseases. Other

hybrids seem to be magnets for different diseases and a fungicide will pay for itself

many times over. It helps to take field by field approach, read extension bulletins, and

work with a local trusted agronomic advisor when it comes to diseases, fungicides, and

management of the problems they pose.

Aaron Prunty

Chandler Co-op

Edgerton Agronomist /Sales

Excitement is in the air as the state fair approaches, but are you taking the necessary

steps to make sure your animals have a successful, healthy trip?

Exhibiting animals, although fun, can also pose a disease risk to the animals exhibited

as well as your herd/flock. Here are some tips to keep your livestock healthy at the fair,

and at home.

1. Don’t share equipment with other exhibitors whenever possible.

2. Minimize nose to nose contact with animals your animal has not been exposed

to.

3. Minimize human animal contact. Be mindful of other exhibitors, and their animals.

If you have to handle an animal that isn’t yours, wash your hands and even

consider changing clothes before returning to your animal.

4. Minimize stress by keeping your animal cool and comfortable. Stress weakens

your livestock’s immune system. Using fans, providing plenty of fresh water, and

minimizing diet change by bringing food from home can help reduce stress.

5. Many of us may still return home during the fair. If possible, do chores at home

first before heading to the fair. Change clothes and shower before you do chores

at home after visiting the fair.

Here are a few more things to do when returning home to prevent bringing back

disease.

1. Clean and disinfect trailers, feeding equipment and other tack before using it

again at home.

2. Wash all clothes and footwear before continuing to wear it at home.

3. Dispose of unused feed and bedding.

4. Keep exhibited livestock separate from the rest of your Flock/Herd for 2-3 weeks

a. Take care of the exhibited animals last,

a. Consider washing your hands and even switching clothes between

groups.

We would like to wish all exhibitors good luck with their livestock projects and hope you

have a successful and healthy fair. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out!

Dr. George Lemke

Windy Ridge Veterinary Clinic, PLLC

1309 7 th Street, S. E.

P. O. Box #367

Pipestone, MN 56164

507-825-3336

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